Nigeria’s ongoing investment in power generation after 15 years of minimal spending continues to attract leading world suppliers to the second Powergen Electrotex exhibition and conference that was held in Lagos on 11–13 June. No new power station had been commissioned in Nigeria for more than 12 years until 2001 and no new transmission lines have been installed since 1987. Exhibitors came from the UK, Spain, The Netherlands, Iran, Turkey, India, South Africa and Nigerian representatives of international companies and local service and equipment suppliers.
The National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) has to meet the challenge of ensuring that 85% of the population has access to electricity by 2010. Currently the figure is 40%. To reach the 2010 target 15,000 km of transmission lines and 16 new power stations are needed.
The two-day Powergen Eletrotex conference is supported by the Nigerian Society of Engineers and was opened by Dr Olusegun Agagu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power and Steel who was followed by key speakers in the power development sectors from Nigeria and other African countries. As with last year’s visitor profile, a high percentage of international and regional visitors attended.
